The plot of Robert B. Parker's Sudden Mischief deals with some important contemporary social concerns, including the use and abuse of charity fund-raisers, the relationships between divorced spouses, and the nature of sexual harassment. The wife of a retired judge and three other women have alleged that Brad Sterling (a.k.a. Brad Silverman), the ex-husband of a woman named Susan, is guilty of sexually harassing them. It turns out that Brad has been Jeanette Ronan's lover, and he has made indiscreet comments to the other women, but the sexual harassment charges are false; Jeanette has invented them to conceal her affair with Brad. Jeanette's husband, a retired judge named Francis Ronan, is unaware of all this and has filed a civil suit against Brad. If Brad seems unconcerned, it is because he has some love letters Jeanette has written. He also has more pressing worries...